Pressure controlled pump operating valve mechanism



H. E. ROSE Aug. "1, 11950 PRESSURE CONTROLLED PUMP OPERATING VALVE MECHANISM Filed Feb. 26, 1944 fi H, n M W 8 x m 4 m n 4 w u I E M a m 5 m D 1 m w.

0 6 2 7 7 6 5 5 J mu 5 6 W F 2 M I"" m H m Ml [J3 3 in Z a Patented Aug. 1, 1950 PRESSURE CONTROLLED PUMP OPERATING VALVE DIECHANISM Howard E. Rose, Peninsula, Ohio, assignor to Alco Valve Company, University City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application February 26, 1944, Serial No. 523,981

1 Claim. (Cl. 121-458) This invention relates to a pressure controlled pump. More particularly, it involves a pump operating mechanism in which there is a reciprocating pumping device and a reversing mechanism, the latter being operated in response to pressure exerted on the reciprocating device.

'It is an objector the invention to provide a pump in which there is a reciprocating pumping member to which pressures are oppositely applied, and'in which the reversing mechanism operates in response to existence of a. predetermined maximum pressure exerted on the pumping member.

oil pump, a reversible force applying means Ill causes a pump connecting rod H to be reciprocated in opposite directions. A sucker rod and sucker S, or other like pumping device, disposed in the well, may be attached to the connecting rod The force applying means l includes a piston I2 operating within a cylinder I3, and connected to the pumping rod The cylinder l3 has two fluid lines l4 and I5 connected to the lower and upper parts thereof, respectively. The lines l4 and I5 are connected into a pressure-receiving reversing valve mechanism l6, which, as will be shown, alternately applies liquid under pressure to each of the lines, while connecting the other to exhaust. A pressure line I! and a discharge line l8 connect into the valve mechanism [6. A suitable pump I9 is connected to the pressure line I1, and receives fluid from line 20. A reservoir is diagrammatically shown at 2 I, and it contains the supply of oil for the operation of the piston l2. The main outlet from the well is not shown.

The valve mechanism I6 is designed alternately to transmit fluid under pressure from the line I! to the lines l4 and I5, respectively, and, at the same time, to-connect the one of the lines [4 and l 5"not receiving fluidrunder pressure to the exhaust-line l8. q

The-valve mechanism, includes three valve elements. There is a first, or relief, valve 25, a sec- 0ud...0r. pflotwalve. Z5, and.a; third, or directional,

valve 21. Each of the valves reciprocates in a cylindrically-shaped opening within the body or housing of the valve mechanism It. s

The relief valve has cutaway portions, separated by sealing collars, to provide spaces 28, 29 and 30 (reading from right to left). This valve has an extension 3| at one end operating within an enlargement 32 within the housing. About the extension 3| are oppositely disposed limiting Washers 33 and 34 urged to maximum separation by a coil spring35. The washer 33 has port i36 to admit fluid therethrough to the adjacentpiston-like end of the valve 25. The washer 34- has similar ports 36. While the spring 35 normally spreads the washers 33 and 34 the maximumdistance apart, as shown in the drawing, to hold the valve in a middle position, either of the two washers may be displaced toward the other within the enlargement 32 by movement of the valve in either direction, such displacement acting to compress the spring 35 to a greater degree. The pressure of the spring may be varied by varying the thick-; ness of the washers 33 and 34, or by employing shims behind one or both of them. The ports 36 and 36 in the two washers permit the passage of oil from one side to the other of the washers to permit free movement of the valve itself.

The pilot valve 26 has cutaway portions, limited by sealing collars, to provide two spaces 38 and 39. The directional valve 27 is also provided with cutaway portions, limited by sealing collars, to provide spaces and 4 The pressure line I! is connected into a port 44. This port, in turn, is connected into the space 29 of the valve 25. It is also connected into the space 38 of the valve 26 but, as will be shown, shifting of the valve 26 to the right will disconnect it from the space 38 and connect it with the space 39. The port 44 is likewise connected'in the space 40 of the valve 21 when that valve is in the position shown, but when that valve shifts, the port 44 will be connected into the space 4| thereof.

It will be seen thus that fluid under pressure is at all times ported to the three valves. i

The line I4 is connected with the port 45, which is connected into the space 40 of the valve 21 with the latter in the position shown, and the port 45 is also connected by a port 46 into the pressure chamber 32 at .the right end of the valve 25.

The line [5 is connected by a port 49 into the space 4| of the valve 21 with that valve in the position shown. The port 49 is likewise connected by a port 50 with the pressure chamber 5| at the left end of the valve 25.

The exhaust line. l8.isconnectedintoaporttiiv that communicates with the space 28 of the valve 25. The port 53 is always connected with the valve 26, where it may communicate with the space 38 when that valve is shifted. An exhaust port 54 leads from the port 53 to the chamber of the valve 21, where it may communicate with the space 40 when the-valveZ'! is shifted:

The port 53 is always in communication, by a cross port 55, with an exhaust port 56 that corresponds to the exhaust port 53. This port 56 conmmunicates with the chamber of. the valve 25 and.

the chamber of the valve 26", where in theposition;

p which wouidproduce destructive forces on the of the valve 26, as shown, it registers with the space 39.

shown, it registers with the space 4| of that valve.

A port 51 leads mm the port55 to the chamber of the valve 21, where, inthe position" An actuating port (it leads from the chamber of the valve 25 to the pressure chamber El at the right end of the valve 26. A similar-portiz 62 leads to the pressure chamber 63 at the left.

end of. the valve 26. .A constricted actuating port- 64 leads firom the-space 38 ofuthe valve: 25 to the pressure chamber 65 ;of the valve 21. A similar constricted .port 65 leads. from. the space 39 provided lay-the valve 26- to the pressure chamebet-6'1 at the other-end of the valve 21..

the start-of any-operation, the cylinder-l2, the reversing; valve mendtheassociatedparts will be: charged with oilror whatever-operating chosem Somepresstn'e producingmeans, suclr'asthe pump 1 9,. willprovide: adequately highpressurafortherlinefl.

Assuming the reversing valve to: be in; the posi tiou shown in. Fig. 2,. it wilL-beseenwthatthe line 44'. throughout itslength is receiving oil at high pressure. The valve 25 isin. neutral position so that: no high. pressureoil is distributed through it; However, the vatve 26 opens the high pres'- sure line through the restricted port-64 into the pressure chamber 65 tomaintain the valve-21 im its left.- position.v The valve- 21 thus connects the high pressure port 4=4= with the line l4 and with the line: 46. Through the line I 4, high pressure is supplied beneath the plunger I 2- and is shown to be. elevating that plunger.

The exhaust or'relief line H3 is connected into the: space 28" of the valve: 25,. and is thus connected' with the port 53 and. port 54,. which are blocked at the valve 2?, but open through the cross port 55 with the port-56, theport 51,. which, in: turn,. are connected through the space 4| of the valve 2"! with. the port 49-, leading to both the line above the plunger f2 and the port 50 at the left of the valve The port 66 likewise communicates through the space 39 of the valve lfi-withxtheportfifit Thus; in the position. of? the valve mechanism 116,. as showm. the valve 25 is open to highpressure: at the right and. exhaust at the' left,,so it may move to the left. The valve 25' is locked, as at the right end it is checked by closure'of the port by the valve 25, and at the left end is blocked by closure of the port 62 by the valve 25.. The valve 211' is open. to high: pressureiat theright and exhaust at the left The line [4 is connected to high pressure. and the line. l5 to exhaust. The plunger is moving up under the force of the high pressure beneathit.

As noted, the unit pressure acting to elevate the phmger is acting through the line 46 against the: right hand end of the valve 25. The spring is of such value that theresultant force acting to displace the valve 25' is below the force required w displace that valve when-rthe plunger pumping mechanism when movement Of the aaplunger is preventem;

When: thiscritical pressure is obtained, the

valve-25'will move to the left, causing a leftward displacement of the washer 34 and compressioh of the spring 35. This causes the line l l i'zr'bei portcdinto the port 62 through the space 29 of the valve 25. At the same time, the port-5i of the-valvelfi is connected through: the space 28' of the-valve 25;.with. the exhaust-line 53 leading to .the line t8. By this means,, the valve- 2G is forced to the right under the influi-r ence ef. high pressure within the chamber-63 and low pressure within-thechamber61 s; Whenuthe: valve-:2 &;..Sh ts, it :cutsthe port 44 from: the P01153543 and onensthelatter port to theexhaust line '53.- It also cuts the exhaust port 56 from the-port 6,6,- and connects the latter port-withthehish pressure-line. I

'I'hesclast operations, by the valve 26 start the introduction'ohhigh; pressure to thechamber 61 at the left or .thewalve- 2.1. and low pressure to the chamber; 65 1184] ;the: right thereof, starting movementet thevalve 2-l totheright.

The valve 21, in moving to the right, cuts the exhaust port 51 from the port 491 and cuts ofi, the high pressua e ,port- 44 from. the port 45. After this last, the continued movement of. the valve 2? introduces high pressure from. the port 44 to the port 49 wherein it may act againstthe other side of the plunger L2 through the line 15, and may also-build up in: the portagainst the opposite endof the valve 25. Such movement alsoconnects theline- 14 and port 46- to the emaust line 54 through the space 48- of the valvezl.

It will be seen thatit is essential to secure a complete travel of the valve 21 before the pressure maintaining the valve 25out-of neutralfposition is relieved. The shifting pressures acting upon the valve. 21 are under the immediate controt of the valve 26' so that the position of the latter valve is the. immediate determinant of the relieve the displacing pressure on. the valve 25 unti1=thevalve=26 is fully displaced.

;*The foregoing: .valve construction eliminates the necessity 0t usingisnap-action mechanismw insure acompleteflisplacement of the valve 211 As soon as the valve 21 does move to'relieve the'pressurein the port 43, the spring 35- will return the valve 25' to neutral position. will not shittbeyoud neutrsl positicn und'a:

fluence of the pressure now introduced to its other end in the chamber 5| because the plunger l2 now descends and the pressure in the line I4 is below the critical pressure of the spring 35 until the lower taper on I2 restricts the outlet for the line H.

In this new position of the reversing valve mechanism IS the valve is in neutral position which traps the high pressure fluid within the chamber 63 of the valve 28, and also prevents introduction of any high pressure to the chamber 6| by closing the port 60. The port 66 of the valve 21, however, is constantly open to high pressure and the other port 64 thereof is constantly open to exhaust. The lines 14 and 46 are open to exhaust through the space 40 of the valve 21, the port 54, the port 53, and the line I8.

It will be observed that the exhausting of the line l4 cannot take place until all three valves are in suitable position. The two valves 26 and 27 must be in the right hand position.

The reversing valve IE will remain in the position thus described until the resistance to downward movement of the plunger 12 attains a value exceeding the critical reversing pressure of the valve mechanism [6. Thereupon the valve mechanism l6 will again reverse by the attaining of a pressure within the chamber 5| of the valve 25 suificient to overcome the resistance to the spring 35, with the result that the valves 26 and 21 will again be shifted to the left so that the port 14 is again under high pressure and the port I 5 connected to exhaust.

It will be seen that the critical pressure for shifting of the valve mechanism [6 is a function of the areas of the ends of the valve 25. These areas have here been shown as equal, which will result in shifting of the valve mechanism at the same pressure on the upward and the downward stroke of the plunger l2. These areas, of course, may be different, in which event a diiferent pressure will be required to operate the plunger l2 upwardly from that required to operate it downwardly.

Ordinarily, a counter-balancing mechanism is rovided. This, however, forms no part of the present invention but may take the form of a counter-weight device attached to the plunger 12 through a sealing conduit 10 at the top of the cylinder l3, or a fluid pressure means connected at 7! into the line Hi.

It will be seen that the foregoing pumping mechanism gives high protection to the various pumping elements. the pump and the plunger will not cause an excessive force to be applied, nor even to stop the pumping operations, as is the case with mechanical pumping devices, which do not reverse until mechanical trip means are actuated at the ends of the stroke. With the present mechanism, any obstruction will merely cause the hydraulic pressure to reach its critical value prior to completion of the pump stroke. Consequently, the stroke will be reversed from this intermediate point. In many instances, repeated cycling of the pump mechanism on limited stroke acting against the obstruction will dislodge the same. In any case, it will be evident that the pump is operating on a limited stroke and suitable steps may be taken to remove the obstruction. Al-

Any obstruction that stops ways, pumping will be continued to the extent permitted.

The critical pressure, as determined by the spring 35, will be held within the maximum safe limits of the strength of the pumping mechanism. In ordinary cycling, the critical pressure is built up by whatever normally limits the pump stroke. If such limiting means is provided for the plunger I2, rather than for the sucker means within the well, the pump rod will not be required to :be subjected to even the force produced by this critical pressure. Furthermore, different springs may be used to provide different critical pressures, or the spring tightened by its nut and screw and shims provided to stabilize its neutral position. Such shims will be used behind either the washer 33 or the washer 34.

The length of stroke or range of stroke can be adjusted by varyingthe position of attachment of lines I4 and [5 to the cylinder 13. A pair of plugs 12 is shown for such purpose.

What is claimed is:

In a pump operating mechanism, a device adapted to be moved back and forth, a first fluid line connected to one side of the device, a second fluid line connected to the other side of the device, a high pressure fluid line and a low pressure line, and a reversing valve mechanism connected to the four lines, said valve mechanism being adapted to-connect the high pressure fluid line to the first fluid line and the low pressure line to the second fluid line, and means in the reversing mechanism responsive to predetermined pressure in the first pressure line, to reverse the connections and connect the first fluid line to the low pressure line and the second fluid line to the high pressure. line, said means including a first valve movable to select one or the other of the connections aforesaid, and fluid pressure means to move the first valve, said last means including a pressure-responsive device connected by the first valve to receive oppositely the pressures of the two fluid lines, and oppositely shiftable when the dillerence in said pressures in said lines attains a predetermined value, and means operated by shifting of said device, for elfecting the movement of the first valve to reversing position, said means including a pilot valve operated by operation of the pressure-responsive device, and means to prevent displacement of the first valve prior to full movement of the pilot valve.

HOWARD E. ROSE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,938,758 Ernst Dec. 12, 1933 1,952,690 Strom Mar. 27, 1934 2,018,215 Lausen Oct. 22, 1935 2,070,720 Ernst Feb. 16, 1937 2,165,966 Hall et al July 11, 1939 2,185,448 Suter Jan. 2, 1940 2,223,792 Muir Dec. 3, 1940 2,263,086 Hall Nov. 18, 1941 2,287,709 Ringman June 23, 1942 2,298,457 Berges Oct. 13, 1942 

